The Lost Colony of Roanoke 1585-1590

Queen Elizabeth I In 1558, she became Queen of England She wants her country to be as powerful as Spain She wants new resources, wealth, new land She gives Sir Humphrey Gilbert a charter to claim land in the New World

Charter Written list of rights granted by a government or ruler Gave permission to take land that was not owned by another country or another Christian

Sir Humphrey Gilbert In 1578, Gilbert takes the charter and sails across the Atlantic. His first voyage is unsuccessful Second attempt is successful. In 1583, he claims Newfoundland for the Queen In 1583, he drowns and dies

Sir Walter Raleigh Sir Gilbert’s half brother Given charter to claim land in North America In July 1584, Raleigh sends Arthur Barlowe and Philip Amadas They claim Roanoke Island in the name of Queen Elizabeth I

The Voyage England Roanoke Is. Santa Cruz

The Voyage Flagship - the fleet’s largest, safest, and best boat (the commander rode on this ship) Flyboat - a large boat with 1 or 2 masts Pinnace - a smaller, faster, and more manruverable boat that had oars

Roanoke Colony – Attempt #1 1585, Raleigh sends Sir Richard Grenville & 100 men to colonize Roanoke Settlers rely on Natives for help and food Relationship between the English and Indians goes bad English steal food and go to battle with the Natives

The New World

Roanoke Colony – Attempt #1 Sir Richard Grenville returns to England for supplies He leaves Ralph Lane in-charge Things were so rough during the winter, the colonists returned to England on Sir Francis Drake’s ship

Roanoke Colony – Attempt #2 Grenville returns to a deserted colony but leaves 15 men behind to keep claim of the land In May 1587, Raleigh sends another group of 150 settlers: men, women, and children John White leads the expedition. They will settle in Chesapeake Bay area instead of Roanoke

Roanoke Colony – Attempt #2 Ships return to Roanoke island to pick up the 15 men that were left behind The captain of their ship refuses to enter the shallow bay Settlers stay at Roanoke White’s daughter, Eleanor, has a baby - Virginia Dare White returns to England for supplies

White’s Return… White cannot return to Roanoke Island for 3 years (England was at war with Spain) When he returns, Colony was deserted of all inhabitants The only clue was the word “Croatoan” carved on a gatepost and tree

And they were never seen again… What do you think happened to them?

Theory #1- No Survivors Theory Colonists were killed by the Native Americans or Colonists were killed by the Spanish

Theory #2- Absorbed by Native People Theory Colonists went to live with the Native Americans and became members of the tribe through marriage or Colonists were captured as slaves

Theory #3 – The Lost at Sea Theory Colonists tried to sail back to England Did they drown? Did the Spanish capture them at sea?

Theory #4 – The Split Community Theory Some colonists took the boat to the Chesapeake Bay Some colonists went to Croatoan Island Why would they split up?

Theory #5 – The White Doe Theory A legend that states Virginia Dare was raised by the Croatoan people An old medicine man who loved her turned her into a white deer when she refused to marry him

Resources: Books & Websites Roanoke the Lost Colony: An Unsolved Mystery by Jane Yolen and Heidi Elisabet Yolen Stemple   http://www.learnnc.org/lp/editions/nchist-twoworlds/1638 http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2004/03/0302_040302_lostcolony_2.html 

Resources: Websites & Videos www.youtube.com/watch?v=o99Y4Brq-GY www.history.com/videos/in-search-of-history-lost-colony-of-roanoke www.nps.gov/fora/